F-4D Phantom II Crash Site

April 28th 2020





Summery :

 The McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II is an US Air Force version of all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed for the US Navy.

This F-4D #64-932 and pilot were assigned to the 4538 Fighter Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada.

On 5 January 1967, Captain Gerald W. Brantley, briefed a four ship Air Combat Tactics Mission.
The mission was scheduled as continuation training for the instructor pilots assigned to the 4538th Fighter Weapons Squadron.
The flight leveled off at 35,000 feet where it split into two elements with permission received to begin offensive maneuvers.
The offensive maneuver consisted of a series of high "G" descending turns.
When neither element had gained an advantage an altitude had reached 10,000 feet MSL, the Flight Leader terminated the engagement.
He continued in normal flight for a short time when the aircraft entered into a 90 degree right bank with the nose dropping about 45 degrees below the horizon.
After approximately 135 degrees of turn the nose of the aircraft came back level of slightly above the horizen.
It then began to yaw violently to the right and the pilot of the Number Two aircraft transmitted, "Get out of it".
The Captain Peter H. Albrecht in the rear seat ejected immediately, just 5 seconds before the aircraft contacted the ground.
He received major injuries at the time of ejection and further injuries on ground impact.
The pilot Captain Gerald W. Brantley did not eject and received fatal injuries when the aircraft impacted the ground.
The aircraft was destroyed on impact.

The primary cause had never determined.
But, the mostlikely it was a flight control mulfunction that caused an uncontrollable maneuver from which the pilot could not recover.


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Crash site has ton's of wrecks.
The aft section of the aircraft is intact, Vertical & Horizontal stabilator, afterburner section of Engine etc... at the impact site.
Both main wing, landing gear is within 40 ft from the impact site.
Most of the front half fuselage smashed into small pieces and spread over the hill top for 7-800 ft from the impact site.


    
Description



Manufacturer:
McDonnell Douglas
Base model:
F-4
Version:
D
Nickname:
Phantom II
Designation System:
U.S. Air Force
Designation Period:
1960-Present
Basic role:
Fighter-Bomber
Serial Number:
64-0932
Year built:
1964
Crash Date:
1967/1/5
Fatalities:
1




Specifications



Length:
62' 10" 18.9 m
Height:
16' 6" 5.0 m
Wingspan:
38' 5" 11.7 m
Wingarea:
530.0 sq ft 49.2 sq m
Empty Weight:
28,276 lb 12,823 kg
Gross Weight:
50,341 lb 22,830 kg





Propulsion



No. of Engines:
2
Powerplant:
General Electric J79-GE-15
Thrust (each):
10,900 lb





Performance



Cruise Speed:
587 mph 945 km/h 510 kt
Max Speed:
1,459 mph 2,349 km/h 1,269 kt
Ceiling:
59,400 ft 18,104 m


    
Other F-4 Link :
 Wikipedia Link : McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
    



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